Meaning of 认识
Definitions from CC-CEDICT.
- to know
- to recognize
- to be familiar with
- to get acquainted with sb
- knowledge
- understanding
- awareness
- cognition
How to use 认识
认识 is most often used for knowing a person or getting to know someone, and also for recognizing written characters. It can also be a noun meaning understanding or awareness, as in 提高认识. Example: 很高兴认识你。(Hěn gāoxìng rènshi nǐ.) Nice to meet you.
认 (rèn) means to recognize, and 识 (shí) is the same 识 found in 知识 (zhīshi), knowledge. When you recognize someone and have some knowledge of them, you 认识 them.
Common mistake: Learners often use 认识 for knowing a fact, but for facts you use 知道 (zhīdào). Say 我知道他的名字 for knowing his name, and 我认识他 for knowing him personally. Also note that 识 is usually neutral tone here: rènshi, not rènshí.
认识 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Stroke order for each character
Open a character for its meaning, components and more words.
认 rèn · to recognize · 4 strokes
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
识 shí · to know · 7 strokes
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
Related words
Words that share a character with 认识.
| 认真 | rènzhēn | conscientious; earnest |
| 知识 | zhīshi | knowledge; intellectual |
| 认为 | rènwéi | to believe; to think; to consider; to feel |
| 认得 | rènde | to recognize; to remember sth (or sb) on seeing it |
| 否认 | fǒurèn | to declare to be untrue; to deny |
| 认出 | rènchū | recognition; to recognize |
| 认可 | rènkě | to approve; approval |
| 承认 | chéngrèn | to admit; to concede |
| 确认 | quèrèn | to confirm; to verify |
| 常识 | chángshí | common sense; general knowledge |
| 意识 | yìshí | consciousness; awareness; (usu. followed by 到[dao4]) to be aware of; to realize |
| 认定 | rèndìng | to maintain (that sth is true); to determine (a fact) |
Questions about 认识
What does 认识 mean?
认识 (rènshi) means "to know; to recognize" and is used as a verb and noun.
How do you write 认识?
认识 is made of 2 characters: 认 (4 strokes), 识 (7 strokes). That is 11 strokes in total.
Is 认识 an HSK word?
Yes. 认识 is on the HSK 1 vocabulary list of the HSK 3.0 standard.
How is 认识 written in traditional Chinese?
In traditional characters, 认识 is written 認識.
What is the difference between 认识 and 认得?
Both can mean to recognize, but 认得 (rènde) stresses being able to identify someone or something when you see it. 认识 also covers being acquainted with a person and having an understanding of something, so it is used more widely.
Can 认识 be used to talk about reading characters?
Yes. 我认识这个字 (Wǒ rènshi zhège zì) means I know or can recognize this character. People often say 认识多少个汉字 to ask how many characters someone can read.